BlackLynx17: Hi! Thanks for reading, enjoy.
Scratching The Surface.
Chapter 3.
Adrien looks over himself in the mirror, fixing the imperfections he spots in his hair. It's a wonder what a good night sleep can clear up. For the first time he didn't cry himself to sleep or wake up in a cold sweat from a nightmare about her. He had a dreamless sleep and woke up completely refreshed. His eyes were back to normal, the bags under his eyes completely cleared up. He looks like he usually does...
"Adrien? Are you sure you want to go to school today?" Plagg asks floating around him.
"Yeah, I can't stay crying in my room for the rest of my life. I have to get back on the horse, you know?" Adrien tells him picking up his bag.
"Why do you need to get back on the horse? When were you even on a horse?"
Adrien chuckles and shakes his head, "it's an expression Plagg, now come on. You're going to make me late."
"Adrien... I just don't want you pushing yourself. You can have my emergency cheese stash if that makes you feel any better."
Plagg has this kicked look expression on his face and it touches Adrien heart. He smiles and picks up his friend, rubbing the top of his head.
"Thanks Plagg, you're the best. I promise not to push myself today, now in the bag you go."
Adrien gently slides his best friend in his bag and closes it back up, heading out his room downstairs. Breakfast is different than usual, a warm bowl on soup in front of him on the table along with a cup of steaming hot tea- Adrien takes a sip, tea with honey and lemon.
"Will you be needing anything else for this morning Adrien?" Natalie asks.
"No Natalie, I'm good. Thank you."
Natalie nods her head and turns on her heels, heading outside of the door to continue her work. Adrien reaches for his side plate of cheese and slips it in his bag before he starts on breakfast, letting the warm soup slip down his throat. It's good, really good, but it doesn't taste like the one he had yesterday. That one was delicious, the perfect temperature to drink with all sorts of little wonders inside like carrots and celery and potatoes. This one... it didn't have the same feeling to it.
Which reminds Adrien, he really needs to thank Marinette today for bringing that soup. Has she always been that awkward around him? He can't really remember much about her other than her best friend being Alya and that her family owns a pastry shop. He remembers a couple of times visiting the shop with Nino; they made some really good pastries there. Maybe as a way of saying thanks for the soup he can take her out after school for lunch? Return the favor? Even though his father is hardly around now, Adrien does remember the time when he was and his father certainly raised him with manners and morals.
The whole car ride there Adrien tried to think of a good place to take her; his favorite restaurant was Louise's, but it's an expensive place and she seems like the type of girl who wouldn't allow him to flaunt his money like that. He always hears Nino talking about McDonald's, that cheap little fast food joint. Even though he's been warned how bad that place is for your body, if Marinette likes it one meal from there wouldn't be so bad for him.
"We're here, sir."
"Thanks, I'll see you later." Adrien tells his driver as he gets out of the car.
The first thing he sees is his friend Nino standing at the steps checking his phone. As soon as their eyes meet a grand smiles appears on his face and he starts walking over to meet him.
"Adrien! Yo Adrien! What are you doing here today man?!" Nino laughs pulling him into a hug.
Adrien laughs as he hugs him back, "I was feeling better today and I can't very well skip too much school."
"Welcome back bro, are you sure you should be pushing yourself today? I mean you look great, but I have no idea what you're feeling right now."
"Like a million bucks, trust me I'm fine." Adrien chuckles patting his back.
"Well that's good to here bro-"
"ADRIEN! OH MY DARLING ADRIEN!"
Marinette almost breaks her notebook in half, if that was even possible to do. She knows she bending it like crazy right now, her fingernails digging into the cover no doubt making scratch marks. Alya sighs and shakes her head, running her fingers through her best friend's hair to try and calm her down while Chloe blabs and cries like an idiot, screaming how worried she was for him so everyone around would think she's a 'kind person'. This act has her snorting.
"Come on Marinette, go over there and show her a thing or two." Alya says patting her back.
"Oh I wish I could... but I know the moment he sees me I'm going to end up babbling like an idiot and make a fool of myself, and I know Chloe isn't going to just let that go." Marinette sighs letting her book go.
It has a strange u-shape to it now. Alya wishes to tell her friend otherwise, but she knows her good enough to know that's exactly what's going to happen.
"Marinette, I'm so proud of you. Yesterday you did a very brave thing and you pushed yourself to the limit... so today, I think I'm going to let you off easy. You don't have to do anything drastic today Marinette, all you have to do is walk over with me to him and say good morning, welcome back Adrien. I'll even do it with you, but just let him see how happy you are he's back. Do you think you can do that much?"
Marinette looks up, "good morning, welcome back Adrien... it seems easy enough. Are you seriously going to let me off with just that Alya?"
"I swear, now come on. He's with Nino and Chloe, so it won't be that bad. At least you won't be talking to him by yourself."
Marinette smiles and nods her head up and down, hugging her bent shape book to her chest. She can do this, she can do this. Good morning, welcome back Adrien, no, that voice is too light. Good morning! Welcome back Adrien! No, she sounds too hyper and excited. Good morning Adrien, welcome back- got it! Perfect! Remember that voice Marinette, remember it well!
"Good morning Nino, Adrien, Chloe," Alya spits out, "it's nice to see you back Adrien, you look good."
"Morning Alya, morning Marinette." Nino greets back.
"Morning!" Marinette squeaks. Come on! What is she doing?! She's already freaking out and that morning wasn't even meant for Adrien.
"Alya," Chloe huffs.
"Good morning Alya, thanks; it's good to be back." Adrien smiles at her then looks over at Marinette.
When their eyes meet she looks like a deer caught in headlights and Adrien can't help but wonder why she looks so defenseless? So scared? Is it because of him? Nino? Chloe? He opens his mouth to greet her, but she flinches and closes her eyes tightly as she hugs her best friend's arm.
"Good morning Adrien! Welcome back! Let's go Alya," Marinette screams, and then whispers as she tugs Alya up the stares.
Nino starts laughing, "that girl is so funny sometimes."
"More like loud, I swear her voice made my ears bleed. As I was saying though Adrien before I was rudely interrupted by those two, since you're feeling better today how about the two of us-"
"Hold that thought Chloe, Marinette! Marinette!" Adrien calls out chasing after that.
"WHAT?!" Chloe screams, fire burning in her eyes.
Nino chuckles and slips away, following his best friend. Alya stops right where she's standing when she hears a voice calling for Marinette, despite the girl hearing nothing and wanting nothing more to do than go to class and put her head down until it's time to learn.
"Come on Alya, I can't believe I made a fool out of myself by just saying five little words," Marinette groans tugging at her arm.
"Hold on Marinette, someone's calling for you." Alya says looking back.
"Huh? Who?" Marinette asks looking back also.
The two of them spot Adrien jogging up the steps, his voice calling out one of their names. Marinette blinks and is froze in her place, pinching her arms to make sure that her dream boat is really chasing after and calling her right now. She's pinching even harder now that he's standing in front of her, giving her one of his heart breaking smiles.
"Wow, you sure do walk fast Marinette; were you on a mission or what?" Adrien jokes.
Marinette blinks, "you're talking to me."
"What?" He asks, his eyebrows scrunching together.
Alya elbows her in the ribs, "I see that the two of you have something to talk about, so I'll be over there. See you guys." She says excusing herself.
"Alya!" Marinette calls.
Their eyes meet.
Go and talk to him!
Don't abandon me like this! What if I mess up?!
You won't! He wants to talk to you specifically, he was calling your name specifically! Just don't screw up and be yourself!
Myself is weird!
GO MARINETTE!
Traitor.
Marinette looks back at Adrien and giggles awkwardly, placing one foot behind her other as she scratches her cheek and stares down at his shoes.
"Hi." She mumbles.
"Hi again, listen Marinette. I wanted to thank you again for stopping by the other day and bringing me some soup. It was delicious."
"Oh!" She gasps looking up at him, "it's nothing! I mean- it was nothing- I mean! It wasn't nothing, it was a lot, but you're nothing- I mean! You're not nothing! You're something special! I mean! Ugh," she groans covering her face with her hands.
"Are you meaning to say you're welcoming?" Adrien tries and guess.
"Yes, yes, you're welcome Adrien... it wasn't a lot of trouble, honestly. I just... wanted to make you feel better," she says, still covering her face from him.
It's easier this way to talk to him, if she's not exactly looking at him. Adrien blinks and doesn't know what to think about her. One thing he knows for sure is that he makes her nervous. For what reason... he doesn't know which one to pick. Maybe because he's a famous model? Some people get nervous around him because of that, or maybe because of Chloe? He knows she can be a little mean and chase girls away from him, if that's the case he's going to need to have a talk with her about that. He notices how red her ears seem, just like yesterday when she was talking to him. Do her ears always turn red when she's embarrassed? Adrien smiles a little bit to himself; that's a cute trait to have.
"Well it really helped. So I was thinking, in return for thanking you, if you free that is after school today, do you maybe want to-"
What is he doing right now? Why is he sounding so unsure of himself and pausing? Who is he right now?! Because Chat Noir would not be acting this way! Chat Noir would be leaning against something and smiling seductively, spinning his tail around as he looks at Marinette and says, you, me, dinner? Why isn't he acting like that right now? Duh, because he isn't in his Chat Noir costume, but still! That mask means nothing! He's still that type of person inside, he just needs to pull it out and stop acting like this.
Adrien clears his voice and stars over, "I want to take you out to eat after school, as thanks for helping yesterday."
It took every inch of his moral fiber to not make it sound like a question and more like a suggestion, more like a demand saying even though I am asking you this, you can't say no. Chat Noir way, Chat Noir way... even though Chat Noir isn't really lucky around the ladies- he shouldn't think of this right now.
Marinette completely stills, her hands dropping all at once to see if he was joking. That expression on his face though, that smile... he's being serious with her right. Serious... Adrien's asking her out on a date. ADRIEN IS ASKING HER OUT ON A DATE! DON'T BLOW THIS MARINETTE! DO NOT BLOW THIS!
"Uh-" she hesitates.
SHE'S BLOWING THIS!
"She'll love to Adrien! That's such a kind offer, of course she'll accept. Her last class is at three o'clock in the afternoon, so she'll be waiting in front of the school for you alright?" Alya says, swooping in to save the day when she saw her friend about to choke.
Her arm is wrapped around Marinette's shoulder, her hand covering her mouth to prevent her from saying something she'll regret. Adrien blinks, his eyes widening a little bit as he stares at Alya and then at Marinette.
"Are you sure? Because if you have other plans, then we can do it another day-"
"Nope! She's completely free! Aren't you Marinette?" Alya asks looking at her, her voice growing dark as she glares at the girl. Don't screw this up, her eyes said.
Marinette feels a shiver course through her and looks back at Adrien, nodding her head up and down. He sighs out a bit in relief, the first time he's ever asked someone out without being rejected- why does his mind keep going to that?! He needs to forget and get over it, not think about it every minute.
"Great, you said three o'clock, right? I should be done before then, I'll be waiting just as you ask. See you two in class," Adrien smiles and waves before turning around and heading back towards Nino.
Alya keeps her hand over her best's friends mouth, walking them over to the girl's bathroom and checking the stalls before she lets go. Marinette lets out a high girlish squeal as she jumps up and down over and over again, hugging herself.
"I'M GOING ON A DATE WITH ADRIEN! I'M GOING ON A DATE WITH ADRIEN! I'M GOING OUT ON A DATE WITH HIM! AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
She jumps up in the air and hugs Alya close, "THANK YOU ALYA! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I SURELY WOULD HAVE SCREWED THAT UP IF YOU HADN'T HAVE COME WHEN YOU DID!"
Alya giggles and hugs her friend back, "of course, I knew I couldn't leave you behind like that. What are best friends for? See! Now I told you that soup trick would work. Now you get to go out on a date with him.
Marinette squeals again.
"And don't worry, you're going to do great. I believe in you; you have this."
She sighs out dreamily, "a date with Adrien, it all almost seems like a dream. A happy dream, a fun dream... oh no! Alya! What if all of this is actually a dream!" She panics.
"Marinette, calm down, it's not a dre- actually, yes, yes that should work! Yes Marinette, pretend this is all a dream." Alya says grabbing her shoulders.
"Huh?" Marinette asks her.
"You're not nervous in dreams, right? In dreams you have more confidence in yourself and I've heard you say you've dreamed about marrying Adrien about a million times already and it was perfect. If you think the date is a dream Marinette then I'm sure you won't freak out, I'm sure you'll act like your normal self since this is all a dream."
"Oh... I get it. Just to make this clear though, this is all not a dream, right?" Marinette asks.
"No, it's not."
"But I'm suppose to act like it's one so I don't freak out, correct?"
"That is completely correct."
"Okay, I understand it now... do I have a little bit more time to freak out and cheer about this?"
Alya checks the bathroom clock, "you have three more minutes."
"Cool... I'M GOING OUT ON A DATE WITH ADRIEN! THANK YOU GOD!"